Musical instrument support



Aug. 7, 1948. w. H. MEIER 2,447,080

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SUPPORT Filed Nov. 7, 1947 /6 W. Meier INVENTORATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a support for musical instruments,particularly a Violoncello or the like.

In the present invention, I have had in mind as the primary object ofthe invention to provide a support for a musical instrument of the typestated, which will be of inexpensive and yet unusually durableconstruction; which has separable parts, to permit easy assembly,disassembly, and replacement of any portion of the device which becomesworn; which will prevent any tendency of the instrument to slip whilebeing played; and which will permit smooth and easy movement of theinstrument as it is being played.

Briefly stated, the invention embodies a rod which is connected to thelower end of the instrument; a sleeve on the lower end of the rod, therod being proportioned to rotate freely in the sleeve; a means forpreventing the rod from slipping out of the sleeve, but which willnevertheless permit free swiveling of the rod, this means taking thepresent form of a set screw threadable through the sleeve and into acircumferential groove on the rod; and a specially formed rubber cupfitting over the bottom of the sleeve.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is an elevational view showing thelower portion of a musical instrument, with the support attachedthereto.

Figure 2 is a view on an enlarged scale of the lower end of the support,partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character I designatesa musical instrument, preferably a Violoncello. However, as will berecognized from the description of the invention to be provided, theinvention can be applied as well to other instruments of the samegeneral class.

To the lower end of the instrument I is connected, in any suitablemanner, one end of a cylindrical rod 5 of any length desired. Such a rodis generally detachable from the instrument.

Spaced from the other end of the rod 5 is a stop, which in the drawingis shown as a cross pin 6 driven through a transverse opening formed inthe rod. It is believed sufficiently obvious as not to require specialillustration that a lug or lugs could be :formed as well on the surfaceof the rod, the .cross pin or stop 6 being solely for the purpose ofengaging the inner end of a sleeve "I slipped over the end of rod 5.

Sleeve 1 is closed at its lower end as shown at 8 and preferably has aflat bottom 9 engagin the pointed end I0 of the rod. The sleeve ispreferably of metal, although other materials of suitable qualities mayas well be used. Adjacent its open end, the sleeve 1 is provided with athreaded opening H in its side wall, receiving knurled thumb screw l2.When sleeve '1 is in engagement at one end with stop 6 and at its otherend with the pointed end 10 of the rod, the opening I l is in registerwith a circumferential groove formed in the rod. Thus, the thumb screwl2 can be threaded inwardly so as to extend into the groove. This keepsthe rod and sleeve assembled, the thumb screw serving additionally toprovide a guide means permitting free swiveling of the rod in thesleeve.

At I4 I have illustrated a tip, that is preferably of fairly soft rubbermaterial, this being provided at one end with a socket i 5 receiving thesleeve 1. Socket I 5 should be so proportioned as to grip the sleevetightly, so as to prevent relative rotation between the sleeve and tip.

The other end of the tip l4, that engages the floor, tapers to acentrally disposed fiat bottom I6, the tapered portion being annularlystepped as at IT.

I have found that by constructing the tip H in this manner, firmengagement with the floor is permitted, regardless of the angle ofinclination of the instrument relative to the floor.

In use of the device, the parts are first assembled as described, thethumb screw I2 being threaded into groove l3 no more than is necessaryto keep the sleeve from slipping off the rod, and to engage lightly theside walls of the groove. It may be noted in this connection that thepointed end IU of the rod, constituting a pintle, permits free swivelingof the rod relative to the sleeve and rubber tip. The cross pin 6 isdesirable, in this connection, in that it prevents any tendency of thepoint of the rod to wear too deep a hole in the bottom 9 of the sleeve.

I have found that by using a device constructed in accordance with theinvention, the rubber tip I 4 will firmly and resiliently engage thefloor, while the instrument can yet be responsive to any movementimposed thereon by the operator during the normal playing thereof. Agreat improvement over end pins commonly in (J use is, I believe, thusprovided at a minimum of expense.

What is claimed is:

1. A support for a, Violoncello or the like, comprising a rod pointed atone end, a sleeve having one end closed, the pointed end beingextendedinto, and engaging the closed end of, the sleeve, means adapted toprevent disengagement of the sleeve from the rod, and to permit freeswiveling movement of the rod within the sleeve, and a resilientfloor-engaging tip tightly fitted over the sleeve.

2-. A support for a Violoncello or the like, including a cylindrical rodpointed at one end, a sleeve closed at one end into which the pointedend of the rod is inserted, a thumb screw threadable through the sideWall of the sleeve, there being a circumferential groove in the rodadapted to receive the thumb screw, and a resilient floorengaging tiptightly fitted over the sleeve, the floor-engaging portion of the tipbeing tapered and annularly stepped.

3. A support for a Violoncello or the like, including a cylindrical rodpointed at one end, a

4 sleeve closed at one end into which the pointed end of the rod isinserted, a thumb screw threadable through the side wall of the sleeve,there being a, circumferential groove in the rod adapted to receive thethumb screw, a, resilient floorengaging tip tightly fitted over thesleeve, the floor-engaging portion of the tip being tapered andannularly stepped, and stop means carried by the rod adapted to preventexcessive wear of the sleeve by the pointed end of the rod-.

WALTER H. MEIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

